Supporting rack structure



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. H. FAHRNEY Filed March 4, 1932 SUPPORTING RACKSTRUCTURE Dec. 13, 1932.

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JNI/ENTOR. EHE'/NY ATTORNEY Dec. 13, 1932. E. H. FAHRNEY Sul-"PORTING'RACK STRUCTURE Filed March 4, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 www IN VEN TOR Eh.FA H/PND y ATTORNEY ma... 3 9 lllllllllllllllllllllllllll lll 0, n J 9w\\.fmv .m s 3 E. ,w vw@ Euw Nm RsAm HK mmm am .H\md am Oi PF Qw P U sDec. 13,` 1.932,

INVENTOR. Ely. FAHR/VFY A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 13, 1932` UNITEDsra-'rss EMERY H. FAHRNEY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOISv SUPPORTING RACKSTRUCTURE Application med March 4,

This invention relates to improvements Lin supporting rack structureparticularly adapted, though n ot necessarily limited in its use, inexperimental and research laboratories, for supporting various chemicaland testing apparatus, and one of the objects of the invention is toprovide an improved apparatus of this character embodying a mainsupporting body structure, and various brackets and supporting platformsor shelves are adapted to be readily attached to the supv porting bodystructure in any desir-ed or necessary position, for supporting thevarious parts of the apparatus or other articles 'i to be supported, atthe desired height, and in the desired position one with relation to theother. t Y

A further object is to provide in connection with said rack constructionvarious conduits, supply pipes, valves, junction boxes and the like,whereby the necessary heating or operating fluids or media may besupplied and connected in operative relation to the apparatus with whichthey are to be used, and in such position that the connection may bereadily made, regardless of the position with respect to the rack, orthe apparatus to which said iiuid or medium is to be supplied.

A still further object is to provide in connection with said rack ascreen for protecting the operator, and which screen is adjustable orshiftable into any suitable position and which may be readily moved intoa position, out of the way.k i

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects as will appear, the invention vconsists in the featuresof novelty in substantially the construction, combination andarrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described andclaimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating thisinvention, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a. supportingrack structure of this character constructed in accordance with theprinciples of this invention. l Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figurel, with parts omitted.

1932. serial No. 596,782,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the supporting platforms orshelves. j

Figure 1 is a perspective View of one of the supporting brackets.

Figure 5 is a view partly in section andas partly in end elevation of aportable single pack embodying the principles of this inven- Figure 6 isa view partly in section andpartly in end elevation, showing a portableto double rack structure embodying this invention. f

Figure I is an end elevation of Figure 8. i p Figure 8 is a frontelevation of- Figure 7 showing a shiftable screen or shield forprotecting the operator.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the rack structure consistsessentially of a body portion formed in any desired or` suitable mannerand embodying spaced superposed horizontal members 10 which areconstructed of any suitable material and are preferablyV comparativelynarrow with respect to their length. These members 10 are provided withsuitablev openings 11 thcre- 'I5V through and are spaced lfrom eachother throughout the length thereof. The members 10 are held spaced fromeach other for any'desired distance preferably by means ofl l tubularuprights 12, the openings of which register with the openings 11 in themembers 10, and fastening bolts orI rods 13 pass through the openings 11yand the tubular members 12, the bolts being provided with a head or nut14 at one end, and a nut or 85 collar 15`at the other end threaded uponthe bolts for drawing the parts together. Any number of these fasteningbolts 13 and tubular uprights 12 may be provided, but they arepreferably spaced from each other for a considerable distance yindirections lengthwise of the members 10. y

The rack or body structure thus formed may be supported by means of anysuitable upright preferably by a wall 15, through the o5 medium ofbrackets 16, which in turn are secured by means of anchors 17 `to theupright or wall 15. Any suitable numberof ythese brackets may beprovided, but they are preferably arranged so as to engage beneath theupper and lower horizontal members 10 of the structure, and thesupporting arms of the bracket are of such a length that the rackstructure thus formed will be spaced for the desired distance from theadjacent surface of the wall or support 15, so that a plurality ofsupply pipes 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 may be arranged intermediate the rackstructure and the supporting wall. Each of the pipes 18 to 22 isprovided with control valves'23, any number of which may be arranged Ain.each of the pipes and are suitably spaced from each other.

The valve casings are provided with tubular projecting portions ornozzles 24, to any of which a pipe or hose 25 may .be connected by oneend, for a purpose to be set forth. These valves and inozzles 24 arearranged adjacent the spaces between yproximate uplright.tubularmmembers l2 and also within `the `spaces 'formed vintermediatethe horizontal members il() so that they will be readily accessible.

uIffdesired,= a conduit 261may beprovided to :extend zalong the upperportion of the rick `structure althoughthe samemay be located in anydesired position, and in which conduit is arranged conductor-S27Aforsupplying elec- Ltric current. .Plug lsockets 28 :are arranged in`the'conduit :so that when it is desired to employ electric current, theusual Mplug may beinserted into ,thesocket `'Supporting .bracketsmoreclearly disclosed 1in Figure 4, are provided :for use inconnecit-ion with the supporting racks, and these :brackets preferablyicomprise .a supporting :arm 29 .and a brace :30, `one Iend `of vthebrace `30 being connected .to the .arm 2 9 as at V31 :and the other end'of the vbrace being ,provided with a [flanged portion .32 having 4anopening .-33 Athrough the free edge fthereof. Thesupporting arm 29isalso provided .with an opening 34 lextending .preferably through oneof-the lateral edges Vof the arm, and an aperture 35 isfalso provided in`the'arm 29 `in any convenient position.

,A platform or shelf36 constructedof any suitable=material co-operateswith thebracket :and this platform ris ,provided with spaced downwardlyprojecting lugs or .pins 37 which :areradaptedfto enter apertures 35iiradjacent Vbracket mrms 29 :for securing the shelf :or 'platforminposition and .also for assisting in maintaining Athe :brackets in.position.

.In use, ,the brackets.'aresecured `to `the sup Yporting Irack.structurein any desired ,position, by connecting the bracket arm v29 toene sof`the Ytubular uprights 12 by inserting the lybracket .-arm` around theupright by allowing itheflatter topassintothe.opening 34. When thebracket is applied the ilower face of the 5armi29frests upononeofthehorizontal mem- Abers 10asshownmore clearly in Figure .2, and theflanged portion'32of .the brace 30 will also .restupon one ofthehorizontal members supporting structure.

displacement.

Obviously the shelves or platforms 36 may be of Iany desired length andthe pins or projections 37 may be suitably spaced so as to compensatethe positions of the supporting bracket-s with respect to each other.

It will be manifest that with .this structure the supporting` brackets`and `the shelves or Vplatforms 36 may be arranged in any position withresp-ect `to the main body supporting rack structure and at any desiredelevation so as yto receive the apparatus or article to be supportedthereby, and in the eventapparatus is supported, tomaintain or supportthe variousparts of the apparatusin theirproper relative positions andat any desired elevation which is convenient for the operator.

In Figure 1 of the drawings upon one of the lbrackets andsupportingshelves is arranged a retort 38 mounted upon a supportingstandard or rack 39, beneath which a burner 40 is arranged, and AtoAthis `burner 40 isvconnected the free end ofthe pipe or hose 25 vtosupplygas or fuel to the'burner.

Another platform or shelf issupported by means of the supporting`brackets at a different elevation and spaced from the retort 38. Uponthis second supporting platform is `arranged a container or receptacle41 to which one endof a pipe 42 .is connectedpthe otherend 43 of thepipe being connected by means of suitable connection with the .retort38.

An ordinary `U tube 44 is arranged intermediate the retort and container41 andthis tube is supported by means of the ordinary and well knownclamps 45 which in turn are clamped lor secured to the Atubular uprightsln the form of the invention shown in Fig- `ures 1 and 2,ithcrefisdisclosed what is known there is shown a modiiied form of the invention,constituting what is known as a base That is, the main supporting rackstructure is mounted upon `the supporting base or standards 4G andsecured thereto in any suitable manner. lnthe form shown in Figure 5, asingle-series of uprights 47 and horizontalmembers 48 areprovided, whileinthe form shown in `Figure adouble series of uprights 49-50 andcorresponding horizontal members 51 and 52 are provided, the` doubleseries being connected. tothe arms 53 of a supplemental support 54secured to the supporting base or standard 46. At the lower portion ofthe rack members yshown in Figures and 6, tubs or sinks 55-56 arearranged, which are in turn supported by the base or standards 46.

In the forms of the invention shown in Figures l and 2, the tub or sink57 is arranged beneath the supporting rack structure and is held inposition in any suitable manner, either upon the supporting wall orsurface l5 as shown, or by means of supporting legs (not shown).

As illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, there is provided a protecting screenor member 58, which may be constructed of any desired or suitablematerial, but is preferably transpar* ent and formed of glass, andisadapted to be raised or lowered or shifted into any desired position soas to protect the operator against any accident which might happen byway of explosion or otherwise, resulting in or from the apparatus withwhich the operator is working.

This shield or screen is supported in any desired or suitable mannerpreferably by means of flexible elements 59 in the form of steel bandscr the like, any number of which may be provided and which may beconnected as at 60 by one end to the plate or shield. The other ends ofthese flexible elements are adapted to be wound upon drums or spools 61,the latter being connected together preferably by means of a shaft 62journaled in suitable bearings 63 carried by a supporting carriage 64.The wheels or drums 61 are preferably of the well known type, in whichthere is embodied a spring and ratchet mechanism (not shown) which willcounterbalance the weight of the screen and will operate to lock thescreen in its adjusted position. At the same time the spring withinthedrums will .raise the screen by winding the flexible members 59 uponthe drums in the ordinary and well known manner and when the pawl andratchet mechanism are rendered inactive with respect to each other.

The carriage 64 is supported by suitable rollers 65 any number of whichmay be provided and these rollers run upon a track 66, the latter beingheld in position or supported preferably by means of the bracket 67,corresponding to the brackets 16 in Figure 1. and which brackets supportthe uprights of the rack structure. A brace bar 68 may be provided forbracing` the bracket 67 and the track 66 is secured to the bracket inany suitable manner such as by means of angle irons or members 69. Thebracket 67L is of a length that the supporting track 66 will bc sodisposed that the screen or shield 58 when lowered will pass in front ofthe apparatus 88 supported upon one of the supporting platforms 36. andif desired and-in ord-er to maintain the parts in proper position one ormore rollers 70 rotating about uprightaXes may be connected with thecarriage and so vpositioned as to engage and roll against the front faceof the track 66.

With thisconstruction it will-be obvious that the screen 0r shield 58may be raised or lowered at will with respect to the supporting carriage64 and the latter may be lnoved along the track 66 to any desiredposition.

Any suitable means such as stops 7l may be provided to prevent thecarriage 64 from running 0H of the track or roll 66.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be made inthe details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, within the scope ofthe claims, without departing fromthe spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is l. In combination, a supporting rack structureembodying spaced superposed horizontal members, laterally spaceduprights securing the horizontal members together, supply` pipes ruimingalong said rack for supplying an operating `medium, article supportingbrackets detachably connected With the rack, and service outlets in thepipes for thel connection thereto of a conduit for conducting the saidvmedium to an article or apparatus Wall face for supplying an operatingmedium,

article supporting bracket-s detachablyfconnected with the rack, andservice outlets in the pipes for the connection thereto of a conduit forconducting the said medium to an article or apparatus supported uponsaid brackets. y

3. In combination, a supporting rack structure embodying spacedsuperposed horizontal members, laterally spaced uprights securing thehorizontal members together, supply pipes running-'along said rack forsupplying an operating medium, article supporting brackets detachablyconnected with the rack, and service outlets in the pipes for the yconnection thereto of a conduit for conducting the said medium to anarticleorapparatus supportedvupon said brackets, said uprights embodyingtubular members arranged. intermediate adjacent horizontal members and afastening rod or bolt passing through said horizontal members and saidtubular uprights to tie them together.

4. In combination, a supporting rack structure embodying a rackcomprising superposed horizontal kmembers and laterallyf" spaceduprights securing thehorizontal members together and in spacedsrelation,brackets having spaced portions, each' portion having a1 recess openingthrough one of the edges thereofto` facilitate engagement of saidportions with the uprights of the rack, each of saidl spaced portionsengaging and resting upon one of the said horizontal members ad jacentthe respective uprights, and a platfo im or shelf carried with saidbracket.

5. In combination, a supporting rack structure embodying a rackcomprising superposed horizontal members and laterally spaced uprightssecuring the horizontal members together and in spaced relation,brackets having spaced` portions, each portion having a recess openingthrough one of the edges thereof to facilitate engagement of saidportions With the uprights of the rack, each of said spaced portionsengaging and resting upon one of the saidihorizontal members adjacentthe respective uprights, and a platform` or shelf adapted to engage andrest upon adj acent brackets.

6; Incombination, a supporting rack structureembodying a rack comprisingsuperposed horizontal members and laterally spaced uprights securing thehorizontal mem* bers together and in spaced relation, brackets havingspaced portions, ,each portion having a recess opening through one ofthe edges tliereofto facilitate engagement of said portions With theuprights of'the rack, each of said spaced portions engaging and restingupon one of the said horizontal members adjacent the respectiveuprights, a platform or shelf adapted to engage and rest upon adjacentbrackets, and interengaging means between the shelfand the respectivebrackets for detachably securing the brackets and shelf together.

TL In combination, a supporting rack structure embodying a rackcomprising superposed horizont al members and laterally spaced uprightssecuringvthehorizontal members together and in spaced relation, bracketshavingA spaced portions, each portion having a recess opening throughone'of the edges thereof to facilitateengagement of said portions withthe uprights ofthe Tack, each of said spaced portions engagingandresting upon one ofthe said horizontal members adjacent the respectiveuprights, a platform or shelfadapted to engage and rest upon adjacentbrackets and pin and aperture connections between the shelfandtlierespective brackets for detachably securing the parts together andthe brackets against detachment from the rack structure.

8. In combination, a supporting rack structure embodying al rackcomprising superposed horizontal members and laterally spafceduprightssecuring the horizontal members -together and in spaced relation,brackets having spaced portions, each portion having Cil a recessopening through one of the edges thereof tofacilitate engagement of saidportions With the uprights of the rack, each of said spaced portionsengaging and resting upon one of the said' horizontal members adjacentthe respective uprights, a platform or shelf carried with said brackets,conduits running along said rack structure for supplying an operatingmedium to apparatus or articles mounted upon said platform, and serviceconnections in said conduits.

9. In combination, a supporting rack structure embodying a rackcomprisin superposed horizontal members spaced uprights securing thehorizontal members together and in spaced relation, brackets havingspaced portions, each portion having a recess' opening through one ofthe edges thereof to facilitate engagement of said portions with theuprights of the rack, each of said spaced portions engaging and restingupon one of the said horizontal members adjacent the respectiveuprights, a platform or shelf carried with said brackets, conduitsrunning along said rack structure for supplying an operating medium toapparatus or arti* cles mounted upon said platform, service connectionsin said conduits, and an open receptacle supported below said rackstructure.

10. A laboratory apparatus embodying a supporting rack of a latticedconstruction provided with vertical and horizontal members, meanssupporting the rack, brackets having spaced portions, each portionhaving a recess opening through an edge thereof to permit the entrancethcreinto of the upright of the lattice, said portions of the bracketsresting upon the horizontal members of the rack, and a .shelf restingupon the brackets and secured thereto for free detachment, said shelftying the brackets together'.

11. A laboratory apparatus embodying a supporting rack of a latticedconstruction rovided with vertical and horizontal mem ers, meansVsupporting the rack, brackets having spaced portions, each portionhaving a recess opening through an edge thereof to permit the entrancethcreinto of the ujiright of the lattice, said portions of the bracketsresting upon the horizontal members of the rack, a shelf resting uponthe brackets and secured thereto for free detachment, said shelf tyingthe brackets together, service supply conductors arranged along the rackfor conveying an operating medium adjacent the rack, and serviceconnections arrao ged in said conductors.

12. A laboratory apparatus embodying a supporting rack of a latticedconstruction providedwith vertical and horizontal members, meanssupporting the rack, brackets hav ing spaced portions, each portionhaving a recess opening through an edge thereof to permit the entrancethcreinto of members of and laterally the lattice, said portions restingupon other members of the rack, a shelf resting upon the brackets, and ascreen movable into a position in front of the shelf.

13. A laboratory apparatus embodying a supporting rack of a latticedconstruction provided with vertical and horizontal members, meanssupporting the rack, brackets having spaced portions, each portionhaving a recess opening through an edge thereof to permit the entrancethereinto of members of the lattice, said portions resting upon othermembers of the rack, a shelf resting upon the brackets, and a screensupported by the structure and freely movable into a position in frontof the shelf. Y

14. A laboratory apparatus embodying a supporting rack of a latticedconstruction provided with vertical and horizontal members, meanssupporting the rack, brackets having spaced portions, each portionhaving a recess opening through an edge thereof to permit the entrancethereinto of members of the lattice, said portions resting upon othermembers of the rack, a shelf resting upon the brackets, a screensupported by the structure and freely movable to a position in front ofthe shelf, means adapting said screen for raising and lowering movement,and means adapting the screen for free` sideWise movement.

15. A laboratory apparatus embodying a supporting rack of a latticedconstruction provided with upright and horizontal members, meanssupporting the rack, brackets having spaced portions provided With openrecesses through an edge thereof to permit the entrance thereinto of anupright of the lattice, said portions resting upon the horizontal memberof the rack, a shelf resting upon the brackets, a track fixed Withrelation to the rack, a carriage movable upon the track, and a screensupported by the carriage a-ilidlfadaptedv to be positioned in front ofsaid s e 16. A laboratory apparatus embodying a supporting rack of alatticed construction provided With upright and horizontal members,means supporting the rack, brackets having spaced portions provided withopen recesses through an edge thereof to permit the entrance thereintoof an upright of the lattice, said portions resting upon the horizontalmembers of the rack, a shelf resting upon the brackets, a track xed Withrelation to the rack, a carriage movable upon the track, a screensupported by the carriage and adapted to be positioned in front of saidshelf, and means adapting said screen to be raised and lowered withrespect to said carriage.

11. A laboratory apparat-us embodying a supporting rack structure,apparatus supporting brackets, means adapting said brackets to besecured at predetermined positions upon the supporting rack, a carriagemovable along the rack, and a protecting screen supported by thecarriage and adapted to be positioned in front of the apparatussupported by said bracket.

18. A laboratory apparatus embodying a supporting rack structure,apparatus supporting brackets, means adapting said brackets to besecured at predetermined positions upon the supporting rack, a carriagemovable along the rack, a protecting screen supported by the carriageand adapted to be positioned in front of the apparatus supported by saidbracket, and means adapting said screen to be` raised and lowered withrespect to said carriage.

19. A laboratory apparatus embodying a supporting rack structure,apparatus supporting brackets, means adapting said brack-l ets to besecured in predetermined positions upon the rack, a track arrangedadjacent and along the top of the rack, a carriage freely movable uponsaid track, a shield screen carried by the carriage and adapted to bepositioned with respect to the brackets, and means adapting said screenfor raising and lowering movements with respect to the carriage.

In testimony whereof, I have signed m name to this specification, onthis 29th day of February, 1932.

EMERY H. FAHRNEY.

